Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Civil Liberties & Human Rights - Scotland (Bar)
What the Team is Known For
Ampersand Advocates is a highly regarded civil liberties and human rights stable "able to offer a range of highly experienced counsel." The advocates are known for representing both private individuals and public bodies in significant proceedings. Practitioners at Ampersand are regularly instructed by the government and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Recent work includes Billy Graham Evangelistic Association v SMG (UK) Ltd in a challenge of statutory tort damages due to unlawful religious discrimination.
Alan Moffat leads the clerking team as Advocates' Clerk.
Strengths
Ampersand Advocates' clerks are very responsive and straightforward.
Alan Moffat and Ampersand's clerks are very helpful and go out of their way to help and accommodate us.
Ampersand's clerks are all personable and amazing to deal with.
I always hear back from Ampersand's clerks within a matter of hours, often less.
Notable practitioners
Aidan O'Neill KC practices across England, Wales and Scotland and is therefore well placed to advise on all aspects of human rights law in the context of the legal systems north and south of the border. He is highly regarded for his finely tuned advocacy skills and has appeared before the Supreme Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights.
Aidan is an exuberant and articulate advocate, who is very nice to work with.
Aidan O'Neill has an encyclopaedic knowledge of European human rights law.
Aidan O'Neill is one of the very best KCs in terms of commitment and knowledge.
Aidan has a brilliant ability to find a way through even the most complicated legal issues.
Aidan has a dominant style in court, and clients always feel like he has given the fight they want him to give in any case. He is a real tour de force.
Douglas Ross KC draws upon his prior experience as a UN legal adviser to better assist his clients in significant cases. His highly active practice sees him making regular appearances before the Supreme Court, the Mental Health Tribunal and the High Court of Justiciary. He is particularly experienced in cases concerning prisoners' rights.
Douglas Ross is the top silk in his areas at the moment.
Douglas Ross has a really good focus on detail, but also can take complicated things and make them sound straightforward.
Douglas Ross is the go-to person for me at the moment, when his diary permits.
Douglas is very skilled and insightful, and possesses a strong critical faculty.
Douglas's written and oral advocacy is first-rate.
Usman Tariq KC is a well-regarded civil liberties and human rights advocate whose practice is bolstered by his administrative and public law expertise.
Usman Tariq is unbelievably calm. He is a standout.
Usman Tariq has an extraordinary combination of commercial awareness, pragmatism and legal ability.
Usman is exceptionally talented.
Usman Tariq is brilliant - really bright and really analytical.
Usman is exceptionally good with clients.